Truma Ultrastore on Mains

[crosswind]

Hi, I was wondering if any more experienced brains could offer some help here. When the van went in for its annual service, we were told the Truma Ultrastore tripped their workshop electrics and asked if it had ever happened before, it hadn’t.

We went away end of July and had no problems with it for 5 nights.

We’ve just come back from four nights near Bristol and we had no hot water (as far as I remember) from the first try. With no testing equip, and verifying the EHU hadn’t tripped, I changed the mains fuse and we had hot water again, but that stopped soon after.

I’ve come home and put both 5A fuses on the multimeter and both seem fine. There was definitely water in the tank when it stopped working each time.

Any suggestions gratefully received!!

 

[ProfJohnL]

All the symptoms point to a failed heating element and/ or the thermostatic switch that controls its maximum temperature, These are replaceable, but it does mans the heater may have to come out of the caravan. Being a gas appliance for safety it should be removed and worked on by a qualified fitter.

 

[crosswind]

Being a gas appliance for safety it should be removed and worked on by a qualified fitter.

Oh, sounds like boiling the kettle for washing up water from now on then..

 

[ProfJohnL]

Being a gas appliance for safety it should be removed and worked on by a qualified fitter.

Oh, sounds like boiling the kettle for washing up water from now on then..

That is of course your choice, and it would be a lot cheaper.

 

[Thingy]

That is of course your choice, and it would be a lot cheaper.

Only if its a low wattage kettle

 

[crosswind]

Only if its a low wattage kettle

True, although we’re using gas for the kettle so will probably just end up with cold water washing up as last week.. don’t need another excuse to use more gas.

 

[Mel]

Does your site not have a pot wash?
Mel

 

[crosswind]

Well yes, don’t think we’ve been to one without.. I do find it awkward though, feels so disorganised for some reason. Probably more me than the actual amenities. Not sure we’ll get the chance to go away again until Oct at the earliest though, so I’m going to leave it and see how it behaves then - got plenty of garden stuff to get on with before the weather turns so maybe I’ll worry about it after.

Just a pity it won’t be an easy fix, I did have a quick look to see if I could see the side the element enters but couldn’t work it out. Surely if I don’t have to move the unit, I can change the element myself, I thought.

 

[ProfJohnL]

True, although we’re using gas for the kettle so will probably just end up with cold water washing up as last week.. don’t need another excuse to use more gas.

For what the element alone will cost, you could buy a lot of extra gas that would run the ultrastore for a long long time!

As for changing the element your self; if the caravan is hired, loaned or used by any one else other than the owner then because it's a gas appliance it should be done by a gas certified fitter.

 

[Damian]

Quote " As for changing the element your self; if the caravan is hired, loaned or used by any one else other than the owner then because it's a gas appliance it should be done by a gas certified fitter. "

Changing the electric element does NOT have to be carried out by a gas qualified fitter as none of the gas items are touched.

It is not particularly easy to change as it is in a tight space and the potential to drop the small nuts that hold the temp sensor in place are easy to lose